Chapter 32

I remain the rest of the day locked in one of the bedrooms.

Looking around this massive, over-plush room, I see there are no exits besides the bedroom door.

I even try opening the door, but two guards are standing in front of it.

Why didn't I see this coming?! I am so stupid! Ryder told me, and I didn't want to believe it! Now my parents are going to die, and I will follow right behind!

I start to sob. This is one nightmare after the other!

I have been lying on the bed for what feels like hours when I notice a room phone. In a panic, I jump off of the bed and immediately grab it, hitting the number one button!

I don't care who it connects me too! I need someone to call the police!

On the second ring, the bedroom door flies open, and a guard walks in. He walks in, slams the door shut, and smiles.

"Laundry Service! How may I help you?" Someone asks cheerfully over the phone.

Right before I can scream, the guard yanks the phone from the wall and pushes me against the wall. It's the pig from the plane!

The one that kept licking his lips. Benjamin.

"Since your devoted husband stepped out for a couple of minutes, maybe I can introduce myself to you."

He looks at me up and down, licking his lips.

I am horrified! I try to run by him, but he blocks me!

"Please, no! Leave me alone!"

He laughs at me.

I suddenly hear something slam onto the bedroom door from the outside. Benjamin lungs at me and grabs me by the hair, pulling me towards him.

I yell in pain as I fight him off!

He pulls a gun out and puts it under my chin. I instantly still.

"What a waste," he whispers into my ear. "As beautiful as you are, Mr. Crawford wants to kill you. I'll take my piece of the pie now. Besides, I saw how you were eyeing me on the plane."

Benjamin places the gun onto the closest table and grabs my face, covering my mouth.

I scratch at his hand, trying to free his hold on me, but it doesn't work. Benjamin's hot breath is suddenly on my neck, making my skin crawl!

Dread washes over me.

Oh, no! I am going to be raped and killed!

He then turns me around, removing his hand from my mouth. He then begins to unbutton his pants. I quickly back away onto the wall, hoping it swallows me!

"Please, don't!" I cry out!

Benjamin grabs me by my arm and yanks me towards him! I cringe away but feel his lips on my neck when he suddenly lets me go.

I shakily look up at him. Scared to look my rapist in the eye.

And that's when I see it!

A horrific expression on Benjamin's face!

One of pain and shock. Underneath it, a knife protruding from his neck! I stand there in shock as he gurgles something.

He tries to reach for the knife behind his neck. His eyes roll back, and he falls to the floor, dead.

It then hits me that someone is standing right behind him!

"Hey," Ryder says, smiling and out of breath.

I can't move.

I have to blink several times to make sure I'm not hallucinating!

I'm not; I tell myself as I run into his arms!

Ryder gently massages my scalp and pulls away. "Are you okay?! Did he hurt you?!"

"No," I nod. I throw my arms around his neck, and he kisses my neck.

"As much as I'd like to keep this embrace going, we need to leave. Now!"

I smile, tears rolling down my face. "Okay!"

Ryder grabs Benjamin's gun from the table. He tucks it into the back of my pants, pulling my shirt over it.

"Let's go!"

He grabs my hand, and we run down the hallway to the living room. Right when he's about to open the double doors to exit the suite, the doors fly open!

We step back as five guards walk in, aiming their guns at us.

Behind them is Max.

My heart falls into my stomach. Ryder pushes me behind him holding his gun up.

"You must be Ryder! The man Samantha spoke about. Well, not intentionally! Her Assassin, " Max says as he walks into the room sporting a huge grin.

He continues. "Why don't you put the gun down? There's one of you and six of us. You wouldn't want them to shoot and accidentally kill my wife, right?" Max looks at me and grins.

We are definitely outnumbered. Ryder slowly lowers his gun.

"Great! Now, put the gun on the floor and kick it to me."

I put my hand on Ryder. He must feel how hard I am shaking because he puts his hand behind him so that I can grab it.

"Today, Ryder!" Orders Max. He is seething. Ryder does as he is told.

"Good, now grab them!" Max yells.

Two guards grab Ryder by his arms. He doesn't put up a fight. One of them grabs me.

Max looks at us both and shakes his head. "So! Isn't this grand?" Max walks up to Ryder tapping his chin. "On my honeymoon, my darling wife's boyfriend visits her. You're very good!" He points to Ryder, an amused look on his face.

"I even made sure to put a hit out on me to throw you off, and you saw right through that! I'm sure you were confused, but you knew. Smart!"

Max begins pacing back and forth.

"Anywho, I'm sure this surprise isn't to finish the job, right? The one where you are supposed to kill her? Not hide her from me." Max looks at me. He rubs his chin again and puts both hands on his hips, sighing. "Were you planning on just walking out with her?"

"More like shooting my way out," Ryder says, smiling at him.

Max shakes his head. "Smug, son of a bitch, aren't you? Do you think you can waltz in and ruin years of planning?!

Max and Ryder stare at one other. Ryder continues to smile. I can tell it's bothering Max.

"Here, Ryder, let me help wipe that smile from your face." Max bends to the floor and grabs Ryder's gun, striking him in the stomach with it.

I jump! Ryder doubles over in pain, making a grunting noise. He then starts to cough. I try to reach for Ryder, but the guard yanks me back to his side.

Surprising everyone, Ryder starts to laugh. Max sighs and turns to walk away.

Ryder stands straight up again. "I've actually been hit by your wife before. Let's just say you tickle me pink."

His words cause Max to stop in his tracks and turn to me. "Oh, is that so?"

Max points to me. The guard lets me go, and Max grabs me by my arm, yanking me towards him. I try to fight him off, but then he grabs both of my arms from behind.

"Stay still, or I'll have all my men shoot him at the same time. Do you understand me?" He whispers into my ear. I still, believing him.

He lets me go and walks around me, standing in front of me. "Oh, Samantha! Oh, beautiful, gullible, Samantha," Max says as he runs a finger down my cheek.

I move my face away in disgust.

"Ryder's been keeping a secret from you..."

Ryder's brows furrow as he looks from Max to me and swallows.

"What secret?" I ask curiously, looking at Ryder.

I'm sure this is a game Max wants to play. One I'll gladly play along to. Ryder and I have to get out of here!

Alive.

Max looks back at Ryder and smiles. "You want to tell her, or should I?"

Ryder looks at him sternly. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Max then walks behind me again. "Well, your boy toy here suspected me a long time ago of putting the hit out on you. That little warfare in Italy was orchestrated by yours truly. It was actually to kill him and get you back. I wasn't going to have you killed before our wedding." Max stops in his tracks and sighs. "Well, I wanted you dead, but I changed my mind. Especially since your father changed his will."

"I went into hiding, trying to throw Ryder here off my scent. Hired some men to kidnap me, hurt me, cut my finger off. I actually did that myself." He holds his hand up, examining his absent finger.

"But Ryder, here, was brilliant! He knew I was just hiding from him. So he needed to lure me out, with the hope of me getting you back. He spent a week looking for me and nothing."

Max scoffs and walks to Ryder. "So what does he do, Mrs. Crawford? Do you know?"

I look at both men, confused. What is Max talking about?

"He had you in wigs every time you stepped out with him, right? Disguised so no one could recognize you?"

"Yes." Wait a minute.

Max and I look over at Ryder.

"Did you bother to wonder why he didn't have you in disguise that last day with him? You went to lunch and then to an amusement park, didn't you? A big place where everyone would have noticed you easily."

I look at Max as he turns back to me.

"I assumed it was because of the rides and the wig falling off," I whisper out loud, confused. I hadn't thought of any of this.

Max looks at Ryder and smiles. "Oh, did you?! Hm! Remember the news, Sam? The gunfight at six flags? The one where all those men died. How did they know you two would be there? And arrived that quickly? Did someone tip my men off? Told them where and when you would be there?"

My heart shatters into a million different pieces as I realize what Ryder had done.

Max takes a seat on the couch, crossing his legs. He notices a piece of lint on his pants and removes it.

"You used me as bait?" I look at Ryder, confused. Hurt is written all over my face.

Ryder shakes his head slowly, putting his head down.

"So that last week, were you treated me like shit, it was just you planning your revenge? And using me? You knew his men would follow us and try to retrieve me, didn't you?!"

My eyes start to tear up. My lips begin to quiver. "Was it revenge for shooting at you in Naples? That's why you wanted me nowhere near you? You didn't have the guts to face me because I was just a pawn to you?!"

"Yup!" Max yells. "However, I didn't expect him to bring you back himself. Saved my dead men the trouble, I guess. He is so ruthless, my darling wife! He got mad and wanted to retaliate! Using you, of course!"

Max gets up from the couch and walks behind me, putting his arms around my hips. "So, wife! Here's my question to you. If you had to choose between the lesser of evils, who would it be? Me or Ryder?"